CYCLING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: WITH THE Ag2r La Mondiale team for the Tour de France due to be finalised late yesterday or early today, Nicolas Roche boosted his chance by winning his first Irish road race championships in Dunboyne yesterday.
The 24-year-old son of Stephen Roche was part of a 13-man breakaway group that was clear for almost all of the 168-kilometre race. This was gradually whittled down near the end and going on the last of eight laps, Roche was out front with An Post M Donnelly Grant Thornton Seán Kelly team-mates David O’Loughlin and Paídi O’Brien.
They sought to exploit their numerical advantage but Roche – who has been racing at the ProTour level all season – attacked hard at the top of the final climb and soloed the remaining two kilometres to the finish, hitting the line 11 seconds clear.
“I am over the moon. It finally happened – I have been waiting for this for a long time, so I am very excited,” he told The Irish Times afterwards. His previous best was third five years ago. “There were two of them there at the end so it wasn’t an easy situation. I just had to try and play it smart. I knew my only chance was to get away on the climb so I played my last card there and hoped it would do the job.”
O’Loughlin took second with O’Brien third. Seán Downey (Banbridge) finished fifth, one place behind Martyn Irvine (Curran Racing), and beat Ronan McLaughlin (An Post M Donnelly Grant Thornton Seán Kelly) plus Philip Lavery (KTM Winningsolutions.ie) for the under-23 victory.
O’Loughlin won the championship in 2004, ’05 and ’07. He wanted to add a fourth title but it was not to be. “I attacked at the bottom of the climb but Nicolas countered that move. I couldn’t stay with him over the top. He was strong and he kept it going to the finish. We had the same gap all the way but we just couldn’t close it. The best man won today.”
Earlier, Charles Prendergast (Mayo Wheelers) showed good form despite a lack of racing due to his leaving certificate. He outsprinted Marcus Christie (Usher IRC) at the end of the 105 kilometre junior event, while Peter Williams (Juiced Orchard) won the gallop for third.
On Saturday, Heather Wilson (Maryland Wheelers) rider narrowly pipped US-based Irishwoman Olivia Dillon (Touchstone) to win the women’s road race. Junior rider Mary Costello (unattached) showed strength beyond her years in taking bronze.
The veteran’s championship went to 41-year-old Rory Wyley, who outsprinted Andre Engemann (St Tiernan’s) at the end of their 104 kilometre contest.
